JPL Intranet

While we transition to the new calendar from now until January 1, please refer all meeting room inquiries and reservation requests to public services/the reference desk.

As of today, Reference Staff can now make 2023 meeting and study room reservations for patrons. (3 months in advance, as usual).

If you receive a phone call or an in-person request for a meeting or study room reservation for 2023, please direct the inquiry to the reference desk staff. If that person is busy, the call could be directed to Beth, Megan or Peg at their desks.

If none of those options are available, please take the person’s name and phone number and Ref Staff will follow up.

The new calendar will be live Jan 1, 2023.

Thanks!
Beth

Do you have any extra vases that you would love to re-home (donate)?

The JPL Adult Craft class is looking for vases to up-cycle  in our January class. Please bring vases of  any size and type of material ( glass, ceramic, wood,metal, etc.) to the break room by 1/21/23 and place them in the bin marked VASES.

If you have any questions, please ask Lori El or Riddhi. Thank you in advance!

In the past, the library has handed out “Star Cards” and collected gifts in collaboration with the Johnston Partnership and the JCSD to provide Christmas gifts to families in need.

This program has changed since the pandemic. It is now called Johnston Gives 2022, and all donations are monetary. Interested community members should be directed to this website for more information:

https://johnstonpartnership.org/home/johnston-gives-2021/

If you enjoy baking holiday goodies and would like to share some of them with JPL staff, please click on the link below and select a date you’d like to bring in your treats. This is optional, staff are not required to participate.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/185ohy8e_bFeB22kVpEhCevQ7-6x3v9gvYGJ0UDJiMIc/edit?usp=sharing

We are still looking for the solution to the short hold slips that have been printed at Circ 1 and 2. If you notice short slips, can you make a note on the #it channel on Slack including additional details (see examples below from Dreama’s message)

In the meantime, please remember that you may have to re-print hold slips in the back until we get this resolved.

 “If staff could report in more detail what they were doing before the short slips occurred, that might be helpful. For example, had they just logged in? Were they printing to another printer? Were the slips printing correctly and suddenly went short with no intervening activity?”

Madelyn Kendall will be in to pickup a box of books labelled with her name behind the circ. desk. She’s working on a Girl Scout project putting together “Go Bags” for children who are abruptly put into foster care.

It’s time to purchase your tickets for the upcoming New Year’s Eve Pops with the Des Moines Symphony.  Andrew will be playing cello then, and vocalists Capathia Jenkins and Tony DeSare will be joining the orchestra.  Here is a link to purchase tickets:  https://my.desmoinesperformingarts.org/0/6568.  About half of the Civic Center auditorium is available as of 12/1.

Please help yourself to a chocolate mint brownie cookie in the break room.  I made them last night.

In case you get questions, the Johnston Historical Society will hold an open house this Saturday, December 3rd 10 -11:30 am at the Johnston Historical Society Museum – right next to the Simpson Barn.

We’re running short on folded welcome brochures. When you have time at the front desk, please work on folding the brochures in the box on the ledge. Thanks.

Hello!

Below is the link for the discounted tickets for the December games!

https://fevo.me/decwildadv

The games are as followed:

• Saturday December 3^rd:

o   WWE Night

o   Local Concert Series – Jake Kemble

• Sunday December 4^th:

o   Pucks ‘N Paws Day

o   First 400 dogs receive a dog bag dispenser

• Tuesday December 13^th:

o   $2 Hot Dogs and Popcorn

• Friday December 16^th:

o   Teddy Bear Toss

• Saturday December 17^th:

o   Video Game Night

o   Local Concert Series – Saxman Jones and Owens Duo

• Wednesday December 21^st:

o   Winning Wednesday

o   Free Ice Cream Voucher

• Friday December 23^rd:

o   Star Wars Night

• Wednesday December 28^th:

o   Winning Wednesday

o   Free Ice Cream Voucher

• Friday December 30^th:

o   New Year’s Eve Celebration

o   Postgame fireworks

Just like last month there is no promo code needed so feel free to share with employees, clients, friends, family, or anyone you know who would like to come out to a game in December!

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you and have a great day!

Phone chargers behind Ref Desk now have barcodes that work in Polaris. Please check out phone chargers to anyone wanting to use one for in-house and check them back in when chargers are returned. Chargers can be checked out to computer only card holders as well. Phone chargers are still just for in-house use.

This is my Friday off. Please turn your time sheets in by Noon on Thursday so that I can double-check them Thursday afternoon. Remember the library was closed 11/24 and 11/25; make sure to update your time sheet appropriately. Thanks!

The Des Moines Symphony (which Andrew is part of as a cellist), is offering a holiday discount of $10 off on a Flex package for the next four masterworks performance sets.  All performances are at the Civic Center downtown Des Moines, and the dates and times of the concerts are as follows:

Mahler 5:

February 4th: 7:30 PM
February 5th: 2:30 PM

St. Clair conducts Tchaikovsky:

March 11: 7:30 PM

March 12: 2:30 PM

April in Paris:

April 22: 7:30 PM

April 23: 2:30 PM

Giunta conducts Rachmaninoff

May 13: 7:30 PM

May 14: 2:30 PM

Use the discount code HOLIDAYFLEX22 at checkout, and this offer expires December 31st.  You can use up to 4 tickets for one concert, one for each concert mentioned, or any combination.

I sent a message this afternoon to the Sunday Card Crafting Club participants regarding changes we’re making effective January 2023. Below is the text of the message in case you receive questions.

Beginning with the January 2023 card class we are dropping the to-go card kit option and returning to the in-person card class format we had prior to the pandemic. The to-go card kits served the community well when we weren’t able to gather in a meeting space, but we now want to return focus to crafting as a community. As those who have been attending classes this past year can attest, we have a great time together expressing our creativity.

We are also transitioning to a new event registration app. It will more clearly state that this is an adult crafting class for ages 18 or older. We have sharp tools and delicate embellishments that aren’t meant for little fingers. Children will not be allowed in the work space. There will be a make and take child craft in the Youth Services area while card class is in session.

In the spirit of an in-person card class, you must be present to receive a card kit. If you register and then learn you won’t be able to attend, you’ll have the option in the registration app to cancel your registration so that someone from the waitlist can attend in your place. We will no longer allow friends and relatives to pick up kits for you.

If you are still wary of sitting close to other people, we will have seating options for those who want to maintain social distancing.

We will experience some growing pains as we move to the new app. Registration for the January 8th card class will be taken manually. The new event calendar won’t be available until January 2^nd. You can send me a message or you can sign-up for the January session at the December card class.

Note that while we normally meet the first Sunday of each month, New Year’s Day is on Sunday this year, so we’re moving our gathering to the second Sunday – January 8^th. We’ll be back to the first Sunday in February. We’ll also still be meeting from 1:30-3:00 in the West Meeting Room.

The in-person only format will allow us to use class time to offer tips and to give you more opportunities to experiment with stamping, embossing, etc. I know that this change will be an adjustment for all of us, and I appreciate your enthusiastic support of the card crafting club. My team and I are grateful for your kind words and encouragement as we think of ways to inspire your creativity.

No-churn ice cream

14 oz. sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp. vanilla, mint, or almond extract, or other flavoring (optional)

2 cups heavy cream, cold

Mix flavoring into condensed milk.  Whip the cream until it holds stiff, billowy peaks.  Gently mix a scoop of the cream into the condensed milk, as this will make it easier to fold in the rest of the whipped cream.  Transfer the rest of the whipped cream to the condensed milk mixture, and gently stir until you see just a few small lumps.  Be careful not to over mix.  Transfer to freezer-safe container, smooth the top, and place a piece of waxed paper on top to prevent ice crystals from forming.  Freeze for at least six hours before serving, and consume within two weeks for best flavor.

For flavored ice cream, heat cream until warm and/or a few wisps of stream occur.  Remove from heat and add desired flavoring.  Let sit until cooled to room temperature, then remove flavoring ingredient.  Refrigerate cream until completely chilled again, then proceed with recipe above.  I’ve used fresh raspberries, coffee beans, and cinnamon sticks for flavorings.

If you haven’t tried maple mustard salad dressing, here is the recipe:

3/4 cup 100% pure maple syrup

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup dijon mustard

Mix together and shake well until combined.

Andrew’s dad will be officiating the Nebraska Class A state football championship game tonight at 7:15 on Nebraska Public Television.  You can watch online or via the PBS video app.